Sprayable depilatory composition and a method of use

Abstract

A sprayable depilatory composition including a depilatory agent; a surfactant present in the range 0.1% to 5.0% by weight of the composition, wherein the composition has an initial viscosity substantially less than about 7.00 Pas.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A sprayable depilatory composition comprising:
 a depilatory agent; 
 a surfactant comprising ceteareth 20, cetearyl alcohol, and stearyl ether, wherein the surfactant is present in the range of 0.1% to 3.5% by weight of the composition; and 
 a pH regulator to maintain the pH of the composition at a value greater than 5; 
 wherein the surfactant comprises ceteareth 20 present in an amount of not more than about 1.0% by weight of the composition; 
 wherein the surfactant comprises cetearyl alcohol in an amount of less than about 2.2% by weight of the composition; 
 wherein the surfactant comprises stearyl ether in an amount of less than about 0.6% by weight of the composition; 
 wherein the composition has a viscosity in the range of about 1.0 Pas to about 5.00 Pas; 
 wherein the depilatory agent comprises one or more depilatory actives selected from the group consisting of thioglycolic acid, cysteine, glutathione, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, lipoic acid, thiosalicylic acid, and thiolactic acid, and cosmetically- and/or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof; and 
 wherein the composition comprises the one or more depilatory actives in an amount of 8.0% to 14% by weight. 
 
     
     
       2. A composition according to  claim 1  wherein the composition has a viscosity in the range of about 1.0 to about 4.5 Pas. 
     
     
       3. A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition has a viscosity in the range of about 1.5 Pas to about 4.5 Pas. 
     
     
       4. A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant further comprises cetearyl phosphate, cetearyl glycoside, cetostearyl alcohol or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       5. A composition according to  claim 4 , wherein the surfactant comprises cetearyl alcohol present in an amount less than 0.6% by weight of the composition. 
     
     
       6. A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the depilatory agent comprises one or more depilatory actives selected from the group consisting of thioglycolic acid, cysteine, glutathione, N-acetyl-L-cysteine, and cosmetically- and/or pharmaceutically-acceptable salts thereof. 
     
     
       7. A method of depilation comprising:
 a. providing a dispensing apparatus having a spray nozzle, the dispensing apparatus containing a depilatory composition according to  claim 1 ; 
 b. dispensing the depilatory composition from the dispenser through the nozzle so as to form a substantially uniform layer of composition over an area of hairy skin; 
 c. permitting the composition to remain on the skin for a residence time so as to degrade the hairs; 
 d. removing the composition together with the depilated hairs at the end of the residence time; 
 e. rinsing the skin. 
 
     
     
       8. A method of degrading hair, the method comprising: applying, to the hair, the composition according to  claim 1  so as to degrade hair. 
     
     
       9. A hair removal system comprising:
 a dispensing apparatus having an internal reservoir and an actuator having a diameter in the range 0.01″ to 0.017″, the dispensing apparatus having an internal pressure, prior to first use, in the range of 4 to 9 bar; and 
 a depilatory composition according to  claim 1 . 
 
     
     
       10. A sprayable depilatory composition comprising:
 a depilatory agent; 
 an accelerator selected from the group consisting of urea, thiourea, dimethyl isosorbide, ethoxydiglycol and methyl propyl diol; 
 a surfactant comprising ceteareth 20, cetearyl alcohol, and stearyl ether, wherein the surfactant is present in the range 0.1% to 3.5% by weight of the composition; and 
 a pH regulator to maintain the pH of the composition at a value greater than 5; 
 wherein the surfactant includes ceteareth 20 present in an amount of not more than about 1.0% by weight of the composition; 
 wherein the surfactant comprises cetearyl alcohol in an amount of less than about 2.2% by weight of the composition; 
 wherein the surfactant comprises stearyl ether in an amount of less than about 0.6% by weight of the composition; 
 wherein the composition has an initial viscosity in the range of about 1.0 to about 5.00 Pas. 
 
     
     
       11. The sprayable depilatory composition of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the composition comprises from 7% to 10% by weight of the accelerator; and 
 the pH regulator maintains the pH of the composition at a value of between 12 and 12.7.